Princess Exchange Rates Fiasco

[Deason]

Seeing as the Aussie dollar is doing so well at the moment I thought it would be a good idea to buy some onboard credit for my upcoming cruise on a Princess ship that uses US currency on board. The Princess website tells me that a US$100 gift certificate costs US$100. What could be fairer? The order form underlines that prices quoted are in US$, and says that "prices in other currencies may vary slightly based on current conversion rates." Also fair enough. But untrue.

 

It would be more accurate to say that "prices in other currencies may vary greatly based on old conversion rates".

 

The Australian dollar is currently trading at over 95 US cents. When I went to buy a US$100 gift certificate, I was told it would cost not AU$105 but (can you believe) AU$150(!!!).

 

I realise they don't want to spend money updating their prices with great frequency by following the currency markets too closely. But the most recent time the Aussie traded at 66 US cents or below was March 2009. It hasn't averaged below 85 cents across a month this whole year.

 

I would be more than happy for them to charge my credit card US$100 and absorb the tiny conversion charge from the bank. But they're not set up for that, apparently, and can only overcharge me AU$150 for AU$105 value.

 

It's a very poor showing.

 

If some kind US citizen could send me the phone number of Princess in the US (not obtainable from princess.com if your computer is in Australia), I'd be very grafteful. I would then try to buy some onboard credit in US$ directly. Many thanks! :)

[Ando]

Princess only adjust their AUD exchange rate once per year and the rate that was applicable at the time you booked (or more specifically when the AUD rate you booked was set) applies to purchasing onboard credits as well.

 

I have had it work in my favour when about 2 years ago the dollar dropped to 0.60 and the princess exchange rate on my booking was .78; and I had a similar situation to yours another time when their rate was around .66 but our dollar was near 0.90.

 

My recommendation is to purchase us dollars now in the form of cash, travellers cheques or visa debit card and use that for your spending. I just bought USD$2000 yesterday at around 0.9487....happy days :D

 

I've tried the complaining to princess route on this issue ( which is how i eventually found out this information) and my experience is that you'll just be wasting your time & money on fruitless phone calls and getting more ticked off about something that most people in princess will have no idea about and no one will do anything about it.

 

Just buy your usd through one of the other methods and save the stress :D

[rugbypopsie]

Yes that is the way conversion on the ship works..be warned don't let them convert your account onboard and the end of your trip either. Mark it clearly no conversion and your bank will convert at the going aussie rate when it hits your bank at home.

[phabric]

I had the same problem being Canadian. I called and ordered OBC since the exchange rate was good. I was told since I used a Canadian credit card and booking was in Canadian $, the OBC would be charged Princess Canadian $'s rate that is set once a year. I just bought US$ at bank and put it down on my account once onboard. I mark that I don't want the account balance at the end of the cruise to be converted to Canadian $, to let the credit card convert it since the rate would be better.

[paul929207]

Go to your bank and purchase US$. Put them aside until your cruise. Take them to reception and put them on your onboard account

[goose30]

Go to your bank and purchase US$. Put them aside until your cruise. Take them to reception and put them on your onboard account

 

Makes a lot of sense. However, if a lot of folks do this the US$ will rise in value. Price and demand. LOL.

[Ando]

Makes a lot of sense. However, if a lot of folks do this the US$ will rise in value. Price and demand. LOL.

 

I dont think a few cruisers buying some spending money would have such an impact on the global economy :D glad I already got mine though....just in case I'm wring....lol

[pablo222]

Can you buy USD travelers checks, while the exchange rate is good?

[Pansy2801]

Currently, all onboard expenses (including charges for shore excursions) on Sun Princess (the New Zealand cruise starting in Sydney) are listed in AUD (Australian dollars). US passengers are given the option of having their bill converted to USD at the end of the cruise (and applied to their credit card on file in USD), at an exchange rate established by Princess. Does anyone know the current AUD to USD exchange rate used by Princess? Is this a variable, or fixed rate? How does it compare with the standard exchange rate used by banks? Thanks

[Aussie Gal]

We too went out and bought U.S. dollars on Tuesday. We have a trip coming up to Cambodia in November and the currency they use there is U.S. dollars plus we have a cruise next April and I didn't want to miss out on the great exchange rate at the moment, which somehow always seems to happen other times.

 

Jennie

[Stevesan]

I'd never do a currency exchange on board any cruise ship. The rates are always usurious. I recall once having a small amount of lira left over and asked to exchange for francs. They ran the exchange thru US $, thus doubling their profit. Once burned, twice shy. Since then, 1999, I always use land ATMs.

[paul929207]

I'd never do a currency exchange on board any cruise ship. The rates are always usurious. I recall once having a small amount of lira left over and asked to exchange for francs. They ran the exchange thru US $, thus doubling their profit. Once burned, twice shy. Since then, 1999, I always use land ATMs.

Last summer, I figured out that if I converted US$100 to Euros and back to US$ on the ship, I would end up with US$77

[rajones007]

Can you buy USD travelers checks, while the exchange rate is good?

That's my plan, so hopefully someone can confirm.

 

I'm mostly concerned whether I can cash them at the pursers desk. I assume I can, but would like confirmation. That way I don't have to carry around much cash and if I need to stock up my wallet to go into port I'll just cash one or two. I'm a Canadian, but I have a US$ savings account which gives me a fantastic exchange rate, pretty close to what we see in the newspaper or hear on the news. I also receive Amex US$ travellers cheques with no fee. So that's my plan right now.

 

Even though I use my credit cards whenever possible in my day-to-day life (for the rebate/points/miles/whatever), outside of Canada and mainland USA I'm hesitant to use them. Not after what happened to my brother and his wife a few years ago when they took a cruise to the Caribbean. (long story...details sketchy...don't ask :) )

[ArthurIhde]

Go to your bank and purchase US$. Put them aside until your cruise. Take them to reception and put them on your onboard account

that's a great idea!

[paul929207]

That's my plan, so hopefully someone can confirm.

 

I'm mostly concerned whether I can cash them at the pursers desk. I assume I can, but would like confirmation. That way I don't have to carry around much cash and if I need to stock up my wallet to go into port I'll just cash one or two. I'm a Canadian, but I have a US$ savings account which gives me a fantastic exchange rate, pretty close to what we see in the newspaper or hear on the news. I also receive Amex US$ travellers cheques with no fee. So that's my plan right now.

 

Even though I use my credit cards whenever possible in my day-to-day life (for the rebate/points/miles/whatever), outside of Canada and mainland USA I'm hesitant to use them. Not after what happened to my brother and his wife a few years ago when they took a cruise to the Caribbean. (long story...details sketchy...don't ask :) )

Yes, you can cash Travelers Checks at the Purser's Desk

[Pansy2801]

Currently, all onboard expenses (including charges for shore excursions) on Sun Princess (the New Zealand cruise starting in Sydney) are listed in AUD (Australian dollars). US passengers are given the option of having their bill converted to USD at the end of the cruise (and applied to their credit card on file in USD), at an exchange rate established by Princess. Does anyone know the current AUD to USD exchange rate used by Princess? Is this a variable, or fixed rate? How does it compare with the standard exchange rate used by banks? Thanks

 

I know that in general it is not good idea to exchange money on board, but my question came from the previous posts that the exchange rate (with the AUD dollars) it is so much better for USD. Does this not apply for the expenses you made on board as shore excursions, tips, drinks? I also saw that OBC from the FCC is 150 AUD not $100. Thanks

[Aussie Gal]

I know that in general it is not good idea to exchange money on board, but my question came from the previous posts that the exchange rate (with the AUD dollars) it is so much better for USD. Does this not apply for the expenses you made on board as shore excursions, tips, drinks? I also saw that OBC from the FCC is 150 AUD not $100. Thanks

 

Obviously the exchange rate at the moment on Princess ships works in favour of those who have U.S. currency. The conversion of $150AUD to $100US for the F.C.C. is well and truly out. It should only be around $105AUD so Princess is actually losing out on the ships that are based down here eg. Dawn and Sun Princesses.

 

Jennie

[dudsy]

I will be going on the Crown Princess in January for a week around the Caribbean. Just wondering how much money to take on the ship? I was thinking $2-3000 should cover it.

 

Btw i have heard from a few good sources to hold out til early Oct to buy USD as this is when the AUD/USD exchange will be close to parity

[paul929207]

Welcome to Cruise Criric.

 

The amount of money to bring really varies depending on your spending habits and whether you use a credit card for big purchases. Unless you go crazy, $2-3,000 should be fine.

 

Also, you should join the Roll Call for your cruise. It is a place to meet others sailing with you.

 

To join, go to the boards menu and scroll down to Roll Calls. Click on your cruise line. Then click on your ship. Finally, click on the thread for your sailing.

[coo359a2]

Go to your bank and purchase US$. Put them aside until your cruise. Take them to reception and put them on your onboard account

 

Paul, would you know how or what rate Princess will use to convert our US$ OBC from FCCs or TAs on our shiboard account? We're on the Sun and Dawn in Feb/Mar. I also want to purchase say $1000 Casino Credits. Did call Princess to ask how that would be converted. Their answer was - that If I used a US$ credit card to purchase the credits it would be charged as 1000 US$'s on my credit card but could not tell me how much AU$s that it would convert too.

[paul929207]

Paul, would you know how or what rate Princess will use to convert our US$ OBC from FCCs or TAs on our shiboard account? We're on the Sun and Dawn in Feb/Mar. I also want to purchase say $1000 Casino Credits. Did call Princess to ask how that would be converted. Their answer was - that If I used a US$ credit card to purchase the credits it would be charged as 1000 US$'s on my credit card but could not tell me how much AU$s that it would convert too.

Sorry,

We have not been on any Sussie cruise yet. We are on the Dawn a year from now. I have not looked into exchange rates yet.

[LBrandy]

That's my plan, so hopefully someone can confirm.

 

I'm mostly concerned whether I can cash them at the pursers desk. I assume I can, but would like confirmation. That way I don't have to carry around much cash and if I need to stock up my wallet to go into port I'll just cash one or two. I'm a Canadian, but I have a US$ savings account which gives me a fantastic exchange rate, pretty close to what we see in the newspaper or hear on the news. I also receive Amex US$ travellers cheques with no fee. So that's my plan right now.

 

Even though I use my credit cards whenever possible in my day-to-day life (for the rebate/points/miles/whatever), outside of Canada and mainland USA I'm hesitant to use them. Not after what happened to my brother and his wife a few years ago when they took a cruise to the Caribbean. (long story...details sketchy...don't ask :) )

Yes this is what I did our last cruise,it took me 3 cruises to find out,an then on the last night I go to the desk an pay off my bill,an then the only thing on my credit card is a good bye drink.

[coo359a2]

Sorry,

We have not been on any Sussie cruise yet. We are on the Dawn a year from now. I have not looked into exchange rates yet.

OK - I will let you know how it works for us.

[Putterdude]

Obviously currency exchange is a profit center for Princess but also they need to hedge themselves against fluctuations in currencies. They seem to treat we Canadians a bit better then our Australian cousins (likely because we can book thru US T/As) but there are times that we get it in the ear as well.

[MattOsprey]

I am wondering if the conversion could work in my favour. Last year I think the USD was better than it is now from a UK perspective. If so, the rate may be good, but how do we find out?

Thanks.

Matthew